Huntington’s disease is a rare disorder that progressively affects an individual’s physical and mental abilities. Symptoms of Huntington’s disease typically develop slowly over time, and they can vary in severity among affected individuals. Recognizing these symptoms is critical to taking corrective or preventive medical actions against this disease’s aggressive and rapid development in individuals. To help readers know better, the following are the ten most common symptoms associated with Huntington’s disease:

Involuntary movements (Chorea)
One of the hallmark symptoms of Huntington’s disease is chorea, which involves random, uncontrollable, and jerky movements. These movements can affect multiple body zones and often worsen as the disease progresses. As a result, this disease involves involuntary movement disorders and movement impairments. Some examples of chorea include shoulder twitches or wrist jerks. These movements happen because of an overactivity of dopamine within the brain areas responsible for motor and involuntary movement control.
This overactivity causes people to lose control of their arms, legs, and facial muscles. Apart from irregular movement, some other issues that can happen are muscle contracture and muscle rigidity, as well as issues like slow eye movement, speech and swallowing difficulties, impaired gait, and posture-related issues.

Muscle rigidity
Huntington’s disease can cause muscle stiffness and rigidity, making it difficult for individuals to move smoothly and perform coordinated movements. This happens due to issues with the nervous system and its connection with the muscles of individuals living with this condition. Muscle rigidity is one of the surest ways of knowing that a person has Huntington’s disease.

Impaired coordination
Huntington’s disease affects the individual’s ability to coordinate movements, leading to clumsiness and difficulties with activities that require precision, such as handwriting or buttoning clothes. Coordination is also essential for various actions, such as walking, running, doing simple exercises (such as jumping jacks or push-ups), and even lightly laborious work.